TAMPA — After falling behind by two goals midway through the second period Sunday night against the Winnipeg Jets, the Lightning had several opportunities to even the score.
A potential game-tying goal rang off the post twice, but Tampa Bay kept the pressure on throughout.
After Anthony Cirelli’s shorthanded goal cut the Jets’ lead to one, the Lightning couldn’t convert a 63-second 5-on-3 power play. They were close. Brayden Point’s backhand attempt from the slot hit the post with the two-man advantage, and the Lightning were unable to capitalize on the remaining 5-on-4.
After their 3-2 loss at Amalie Arena, the Lightning haven’t won consecutive games in nearly a month, when the won three straight — a win at Dallas sandwiched between two victories over the Avalanche in mid-February.
Still, they could take little victories from Sunday’s game, among them a determined 60-minute effort.
A controversial goal gave the Jets a 3-1 lead when Morgan Barron filled an open net on a second-chance shot after Winnipeg defenseman Brenden Dillon collided with Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy in front of the net.
The Lightning challenged for goalie interference, but the call was confirmed after video review.
Tampa Bay answered quickly on Cirelli’s shorthanded goal 57 seconds after Barron scored, sprung on a breakaway by Brandon Hagel’s stretch pass through the neutral zone.
The Lightning, who outshot Winnipeg 35-22, played the entire third period short a forward after Cirelli did not make a shift after coming off the ice with 5:40 left in the second.
Tampa Bay did get captain Steven Stamkos back in the lineup. Stamkos hobbled off the ice in the first period of Saturday’s win over Chicago with an apparent left leg injury and didn’t return.
Vasilevskiy, who made 19 saves, kept it a one-goal game in the third period, stopping Kyle Conner on a breakaway. Vasilevskiy’s initial poke check attempt failed, but he kicked out his right pad to cut off the postr. Mason Appleton also was stopped by Vasilevskiy on a breakaway inside the final four minutes.
